City · Michigan
Portage, Michigan
Portage, city, in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Portage had 49,862 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 48,891 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 49,259 (±38). GEOID 2665560.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
49,862
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 48,891 · ACS 2020-2024: 49,259 ±38
Median household income
$83,212
±$4,451 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$262,300
±$9,554 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$1,133
±$43 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
Where is Portage and what county is it in?
Portage is a city in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. It covers 32.2 square miles of land, 1,517 residents per square mile in 2020.
Portage is in the Kalamazoo-Portage, MI metropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Portage, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 49,862 people lived in Portage on July 1, 2025, up 2.0% since 2020, faster than Michigan (+0.5%). The 2020 Census counted 48,891 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 49,259 (±38).
| Measure | Portage | Kalamazoo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 49,259 ±38 | 262,375 | +485 |
| Households | 20,844 ±556 | 107,110 | +860 |
| Average household size | 2.35 ±0.06 | 2.38 | −0.08 |
| Housing units | 21,881 ±571 | 114,908 | no clear change |
Portage's population since 2000
From 44,897 in 2000 to 49,862 in 2025: up 11.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Portage as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Portage?
The median resident of Portage is 38.5 years old; 20.8% are under 18 and 18.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 79.5%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 6.2%. 5.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Portage | Kalamazoo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 ±1.4 | 35.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.8% ±1.2 pts | 21.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.0% ±1.3 pts | 16.1% | – |
| Male | 49.3% ±1.4 pts | 49.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.6% ±1.3 pts | 5.9% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 79.5% ±2.3 pts | 74.6% | −3.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 6.2% ±1.3 pts | 10.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±0.8 pts | 2.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.8% ±1.2 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 5.9% ±1.1 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.6% ±1.3 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.5% ±1.1 pts | 5.7% | – |
| With a disability | 9.5% ±0.9 pts | 11.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.9% ±1.1 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.7% ±0.7 pts | 94.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 47.9% ±2.7 pts | 41.3% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 19.2% ±1.9 pts | 16.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.8% ±1.9 pts | 85.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.5% ±0.6 pts | 1.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Portage earn?
Half of Portage's 20,844 households earn less than $83,212 a year (±$4,451), against $72,532 in Kalamazoo County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 the median was $77,461 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $5,751 after inflation. 7.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Portage | Kalamazoo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $83,212 ±$4,451 | $72,532 | +$5,751 |
| Mean household income | $109,253 ±$5,927 | $100,193 | – |
| Per capita income | $46,784 ±$2,565 | $41,530 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.1% ±1.5 pts | 12.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.3% ±3.0 pts | 11.5% | −5.7 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.8% ±1.7 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 96.1% ±0.9 pts | 95.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.8% ±1.6 pts | 90.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Portage?
Owners occupy 69.1% of Portage's occupied homes and renters 30.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $262,300 by its owner (±$9,554). The median renter pays $1,133 a month including utilities, and 34.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Portage | Kalamazoo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $262,300 ±$9,554 | $241,800 | +$60,097 |
| Median gross rent | $1,133 ±$43 | $1,093 | +$100 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.1% ±5.1 pts | 44.3% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,703 ±$60 | $1,616 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.1% ±2.6 pts | 64.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 30.9% ±2.6 pts | 35.5% | – |
| Housing units | 21,881 ±571 | 114,908 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.6% ±2.6 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 69.1% ±2.1 pts | 64.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.8% ±0.4 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.5% ±0.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.1% ±1.3 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 2.1% ±0.6 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.0% ±1.3 pts | 7.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Portage building?
Builders took permits for 141 new housing units in Portage in 2025 (141 in single-family houses), 2.8 per 1,000 residents against 2.3 across Michigan.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Portage work and get to work?
78.1% of Portage's workers drive alone and 13.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.3%.
| Measure | Portage | Kalamazoo County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.7% ±1.8 pts | 65.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% ±1.1 pts | 5.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.1% ±2.6 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.3% ±1.3 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.6% ±0.5 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Walked | 1.1% ±0.9 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 13.7% ±1.9 pts | 12.5% | +10.5 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.7 min ±1.0 | 20.7 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Portage?
11 census tracts lie mostly in Portage, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $53,527 (Tract 19.05) to $120,074 (Tract 20.05).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 20.03Kalamazoo County | 6,702 | $101,034 |
| Tract 21.04Kalamazoo County | 6,115 | $84,053 |
| Tract 19.05Kalamazoo County | 5,270 | $53,527 |
| Tract 19.07Kalamazoo County | 4,757 | $59,925 |
| Tract 19.06Kalamazoo County | 4,578 | $73,830 |
| Tract 20.02Kalamazoo County | 4,435 | $90,765 |
| Tract 35Kalamazoo County | 4,384 | $86,371 |
| Tract 20.05Kalamazoo County | 4,106 | $120,074 |
| Tract 20.04Kalamazoo County | 3,898 | $92,438 |
| Tract 21.02Kalamazoo County | 2,922 | $105,724 |
| Tract 21.03Kalamazoo County | 2,092 | $93,155 |
| Tract 18.02Kalamazoo County | 4,359 | $68,800 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Portage) · Census block assignment files
How does Portage compare with other places in Michigan?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Portage is the 825th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 25th-most populous of 533 in Michigan.
Portage ranks 398th of 1,354 places in Michigan with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 25th | 533 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 377th | 1,281 |
| Residents per square mile | 210th | 1,356 |
| Median household income | 398th | 1,354 |
| Per capita income | 256th | 1,355 |
| Median home value | 349th | 1,354 |
| Median gross rent | 337th | 1,212 |
| Poverty rate | 893rd | 1,213 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 112th | 1,350 |
| Median age | 1,057th | 1,356 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,115th | 1,356 |
| Work from home | 303rd | 1,062 |
| Travel time to work | 1,145th | 1,356 |
Portage's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)
Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Portage with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Portage?
5 of the 57 figures for Portage on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Portage are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Portage.